An adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited the memorial at the German Nazi death camp of Auschwitz to pay respect to camp victims on Friday.

Ziad al-Bandak, who advises Abbas on Religious affairs, visited prisoner blocs, gas chambers and a crematorium in the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex that the Germans built and operated in southern Poland during their World War II occupation of the country.

Some 1.5 million people, mostly Jews, were killed in the camp from 1940-45.

Al-Bandak, a Christian, came on an invitation from a private Polish foundation promoting tolerance.